By: Jennifer Wilmoth | AAMFT at Grow Counseling
After a long wait, many people are taking to the roads and skies to enjoy summer vacations again. Vacations are a great way to have fun and relax with family and friends and as a bonus they are good for your mental health, too! No matter how you like to vacation, people often feel freedom, relaxation, and enjoyment by getting away from routines and stresses of life. Unfortunately, sometimes all the good feelings can start to fade into post vacation blues before you even arrive home.
Here are some tips to help you beat the post vacation blues and keep the good vacation feelings going.
Take an Extra Day Off
Give yourself a day at home after your vacation to relax, unpack and do laundry before you jump back into your day-to-day routine. Changing abruptly from days filled with what you want to do back to days filled mostly with what you need to do can bring on feelings of disappointment and blues. So, help keep the relaxation going by giving yourself more time to ease back into your daily routine.
Look Forward to Home
Think about what you like about being at home and in your town. Home offers a lot of comforts and joys we often take for granted. Plan to visit your favorite store or park when you return. Clean your house before you leave so you can look forward to walking back into a fresh and organized home or simply think about how good it will feel to sleep in your own bed again.
De-stress with Vacation Memories
Thinking of good vacation memories can help you to de-stress and feel happy months after returning home. Try imagining yourself at your favorite vacation spot or tell a friend about a fun vacation experience you had to help you feel less stressed and more energized in your day-to- day routine.
Plan the Next Vacation
Think about the next vacation you want to take as you are on your way home. You don’t have to plan every detail but it is helpful to remind yourself you will have another break from your routine in the near future. You can start thinking of the location and activities you might want to do on your next vacation. The ongoing excitement about your next adventure can be a great way to keep the blues about returning to work or daily routines away.
Jennifer Wilmoth is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and AAMFT Approved Supervisor who works in the Suwanee area at Grow Counseling with over a decade of experience. She received her Master’s of Family Therapy from Mercer University School of Medicine. She works with families and individuals dealing with a variety of concerns. She specializes in working with couples who want to improve their relationship, teens experiencing difficulties at home or school, children experiencing behavioral or relational concerns, anxiety, and depression.
